Contents

Our energy use

We publish information on how much energy our headquarters uses as part of efforts to make government operations and spending more transparent.

Real-time energy use

We collect information about our energy use from our main utility meters (electricity, gas and water) at the end of each day. The continual capture of data allows us to monitor how much energy and water we are using each day, week, month and year.

Climate change

The ‘UK climate change projections 2009’ published by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) show that we can expect hotter summers, wetter winters and more extreme weather in the future.

Climate change has the potential to impact on all areas of DCMS business including:

damage to our historical and cultural assets

difficulties in maintaining public parks and sports pitches

flooding of tourist destinations and leisure facilities

However, a changing climate could also provide opportunities, with a greater call for outside events and sports in summer, an increase in tourism, and investment in sustainable architecture.

We, and our sectors, also have a role in mitigating future damage by reducing carbon emissions and contributing to the overall UK and global drive to create a more sustainable future.

What we are doing in DCMS

Our current priorities are to:

provide our sectors with information, evidence and support about climate change

help raise awareness and generate debate about climate change in our sectors

provide further forums for policy makers and front-line practitioners

develop specific adaptation plans for our sector

Guidance for our sectors

The following links provide more specific guidance on topics relevant to the sustainable development of the culture and leisure sectors: